10/17/17 – 5:21 A.M.

A lengthy court battle in Putnam County is over. The Lima News reports a judge has ruled the Putnam County Educational Service Center has to pay a former employee more than $16,000 for unpaid vacation days.

Putnam County Administrator Jackson Betscher filed the suit in 2014. He claimed the ESC never paid him for more than 49 vacation days between 2011 and 2013.

Judge John Collier ruled Betscher was a full-time, non-teaching employee of the ESC starting in 1998. In 2011 the agency subcontracted him to the Putnam County Commissioners. Attorney Albin Bauer says the ESC claimed Betscher became a part-time employee for both organizations at that point. However, Collier ruled Betscher was always a full-time employee of the ESC even though they subcontracted him to another job. That made him eligible for vacation benefits.

MORE: Lima News

10/17/17 – 5:08 A.M.

The Findlay City School district is looking to pare back spending where they can, but are still looking at a deficit in the future. The Courier reports the school board outlined their latest five-year forecast during a Monday night meeting. The forecast shows improved numbers, but anticipates a deficit starting in fiscal year 2021.

With that in mind, board members said they may have to consider a levy in the next few years. Board President Shane Pochard said, “I think we need to look at getting our own house in order before we would ever go back to the voters and ask for more money.”

The latest forecast assumes that the district won’t replace staff who retire or leave for another job. It also assumes the district will pay for textbook costs with permanent improvement funds.

The new forecast shows a positive cash balance through 2020. The previous forecast showed a deficit of more than $1 million at that point. Deficits start in 2021 at more than $3 million. That’s down from a projected $17 million deficit.

MORE: The Courier

10/16/17 – 11:41 P.M.

There was an informational forum on Issue 2 at the University of Findlay Monday night. If passed, Issue 2 will allow the state government to negotiate for the same prices on drugs that the Veterans Affairs does. David Little spoke in favor of the issue and said that it should e a right.

David Little

Little said that voting yes will help drive the cost of prescriptions drugs down. His opponent, Dale Butland, disagreed. He said that passing the issue will create a cost shift. While some prices might go down other will go up. He added that the VA handles their prescriptions differently from the state.

Dale Butland

One thing both sides did agree on was that issue 2 is complex and confusing.

10/16/17 – 6:28 P.M.

A Findlay company received grant money to help buy safety equipment. The Courier reports that Findlay Machine and Tool Inc. accepted a grant of $40,000 from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The grants are being awarded to buy equipment designed to substantially reduce or eliminate workplace injuries and illness.

Findlay Machine and Tool is using the grant money to buy an automatic bar loader. This will reduce the risk of injuries to the hands, wrists, neck, back, and legs.

ODOT has a few projects planned in Putnam County this week. The agency says crews will reduce State Route 65 to one lane north of Ottawa for culvert repair. Later this week railroad repair will close State Route 65 north of Belmore. ODOT says CSX will start that project on October 20. It should last three days.

Elsewhere, ODOT has reduced State Route 109 north of Ottawa to one lane for pavement repair.

State Route 190 between Fort Jennings and U.S. 224 remains closed for pavement repair.

10/16/17 – 7:22 A.M.

Local gas prices are up as we start a new work week. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price in Findlay is $2.44 for a gallon of regular today. That’s up 24 cents from last Monday. Prices are 11 cents higher than they were a month ago.

Drivers in Ottawa report paying $2.39 per gallon today. That’s up 16 cents from last week.

Prices in Findlay are above the state average, which stands at $2.39 per gallon today. That’s a 14 cent increase over the last seven days.

10/16/17 – 6:58 A.M.

Aside from the I-75 widening project in Findlay, ODOT has little work planned in Hancock County this week. ODOT says crews are still working to place new curbs and guardrails on I-75 northbound north of Bluffton. Workers have narrowed lanes in that area to allow for construction.

You might also see some overnight lane closures as the work continues.